J Korean Radiol Soc.  1994 Aug;31(2):197-203.

MRI Findings of Cervical Lymphadenopathy: Preliminary Study

• Choi YC
• Oh SS
• Lee YO
• Lee JY
• Cho YJ
• Park BL
• Lee KH

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study is to evaluate findings in MRI which maybe useful in differential diagnosis of cervical lymph node enlargement.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the MRI findings of cervical lymph node enlargement in surgically proven 13 patients. We analyzed the location, size and shape, signal intensity, margin between node and surrounding structures degree and patterns of contrast enhancement
RESULTS
No disease specificity in location and size of lymphadenopathy. was demonstrated in MRI. Most lymph nodes shows isointensity or slightly increased signal intensity to adjacent muscle on T1WI and high signal intensity on T2WI. Most of the cases showed contrast enhancement with metastatic lymph nodes showing ring-like and/or patchy enhancement. Tuberculous lymphadenopathy showed homogeneous or rather thick walled ring-like enhancement and one or multiple central nonenhancing portions of eccentrical location in the node. Relatively homogeneous enhancements were noted on reactive lymphold hyperplasia, Lymphoma and Castleman's disease.
CONCLUSION
MR imaging was helpful in differentiation of cervical lymph node enlargements. Tuberculous lymphadenopathy showed characteristic findings of rather spherical shaped, thick walled ring enhancement and multiple eccentrically located central nonenhancing portions.

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis, Differential
Giant Lymph Node Hyperplasia
Humans
Hyperplasia
Lymph Nodes
Lymphatic Diseases*
Lymphoma
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Retrospective Studies
Sensitivity and Specificity